A group of concerned residents successfully stopped planned aerial spraying of herbicides by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in Tyagarah Nature Reserve yesterday morning (Monday).

The site is being sprayed to remove the weed bitou bush, which out-competes native coastal vegetation.

The group plans a further protest at the site again today.

Spokesperson Iris Ray Nunn told Echonetdaily that the spraying was stopped through non-violent direct action because there were people in the dunes. ‘They didn’t spray Tyagarah, but NPWS people said they would spray elsewhere.’

She says the group sincerely wants to work with NPWS and Byron Shire Council towards a solution to control the weed without resorting to chemicals.